Peaceful Pedestrian Plaza Or Place Of Protest?

In 1962, Salt Lake City's "Second Century Plan" recommended creating a pedestrian-only area on a block of Main Street at the north end of downtown. At the invitation of the city in 1998, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints purchased the two-acre site next to its world headquarters and opened its "New Church Plaza" in 2000. While an easement grants 24-hour access to all, the Church limits certain activities. A controversy pitting free speech and property rights against one another has ensued, resulting in a ruling against the Church in Denver's 10th Circuit Court. Warning that this unprecedented ruling threatens the free exercise of religion and could disrupt municipal land use planning on a wider scale, the Church is preparing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and distributing an information packet to leaders of other faiths and of business and government.

Thanks to Ryan Park